He was weak.
That's the conclusion he could finally make, the painful realization that he now blatantly knew was true.
This entire time he went on about how we would be the "Ultimate Pawn" and how he would always protect Rias. Yet, he fell here, so early in his journey.
The entire battle had looked to be in their favor, him, Koneko, and Akeno retiring Raiser's Rook, Xuelan, and three of his Pawns.
Kiba intercepted three Pawns himself, and retired them quickly.
Then Koneko was retired by Raiser's Queen, Yubelluna. Akeno quickly engaged her, and he and Kiba had confronted the rest of Raiser's peerage.
From there him and Kiba retired both of Raiser's Knights, his last Rook, and his final two Pawns. Things began to look in their favor again, that is, until Akeno was retired by Raiser's Queen.
Issei and Kiba were shocked, but Issei quickly became stunned when Kiba was retired by a sudden explosion.
He quickly ran to where Rias and Asia were confronting Raiser. As soon as he arrived he promoted to Queen, before heading to the roof to confront Raiser alongside them.
What followed could only be described as a one sided thrashing.
Issei was beaten badly, for every hit he landed Raiser returned the favor tenfold, and even when he did hit him Raiser quickly healed.
"Do you see how worthless you are? How bad your situation is? You simply cannot beat Raiser and the power of the Phenex."
Lying on the ground Issei begrudgingly admitted that the man was right, he could not beat him, but what was worse was that he could not save her.
"Due to your disrespect to Raiser, Raiser has also deemed it fit to eliminate your low class self. Now, burn."
"STOP!" He heard the shout of the woman he vowed to protect so clearly. "I forfeit."
She forfeited for him..? Hehaha that just proved how weak he was.
Raiser took several steps towards her, before putting a hand on her cheek, "Forfeiting to save your worthless servant hm? Well atleast Raiser will finally claim what he was entitled to all this time, Rias."
Issei didn't know what it was, but hearing those words set something off in him. He'd finally receive something he was entitled to? This dude, this shitty lowlife who only wanted Rias for status, power, and her body, would actually have her?
"Buchou, don't you dare forfeit this match."
"ISSEI GIVE UP YOU CAN'T WIN."
Raiser looked back at the boy he so easily beat earlier before putting in his own thoughts, "You should listen to Rias, or else Raiser will have to resort to burying you."
"Oi chicken-shit, you better prepare yourself cause I'm about to beat your ass back to Sunday."
An overwhelming aura emanated from Issei's form before a voice spoke from the gauntlet on his arm.
[Welsh Dragon....
BALANCE BREAKER].
And that concludes that, I've had this idea poking at my brain for awhile, the series states that sacred gears responded to their possessors will and emotions, and knowing that, there was a lot of potential for Issei to unlock BalanceBreaker during the Raiser fight..
MacaroniManX out.